The 5 C’s of an Effective Marketing Plan

Can you hear it?

There’s a sudden panic in the air. Entrepreneurs are scurrying around frantically trying to map out their marketing for the upcoming year.

Don’t worry if you haven’t mapped yours out yet. You’re now going to learn 5 keys to creating an effective marketing strategy.

1. Clear Message

What is it that you stand for? What do you represent? A good way to think of your message is what is it about you that makes you unique and what is it that you do that helps others? For example; my message is that I’m here to help career women (present and past) grow their solo business so that they can either quit their job if they’re still working or never have to return to one again.   All of my marketing speaks directly to their needs. Consider that the clearer you are with your message and who it’s for the easier it is to market your business and for your prospects to find you.

2. Comprehend your Market

A marketing plan cannot be developed until you clearly establish who you are marketing to. In order to know who that person is you must identify as much information as possible about them. Their traits, demographics, interests and where they tend to gather. Over time as your business grows you will notice that your market will change and as it does make sure that all of your marketing materials change with it.

3. Capture your Market

No marketing plan would be complete without many ways to capture your market. Many new business owners discount the need for marketing and tend to only focus on one or two ways to capture their market. To effectively and consistently grow your business you must be working on dozens of ways to bring new leads to you. Don’t be intimidated by this—many things can now be automated. But here are a few things to keep in mind—Every website should have a place for you to capture names and emails. All of your social media profiles should be directing prospects back to your website to learn more about your work. All of your sales materials must clearly indicate how clients can work with you. There are numerous ways to capture your market from Facebook and Google Ads, to your Free Offer on your website, to teleclasses and more. You must decide which are the best strategies and select them based on your business model.

4. Create Consistency

This is one of the keys to success. Remain consistent with your efforts. Not just day to day and month to month but year to year. I once heard that as long as you have a business you must market it. You will need to love marketing—especially if you’re an entrepreneur. Please don’t go half way on this element—you need to keep at it. It will pay off as long as you remain consistent.

5. Calendar

No good marketing plan is worthwhile unless it’s mapped out. To keep up with your strategies you should have a systematic process to work all of your online and offline strategies. Knowing what and when to post, when to write blogs and newsletters and so on. Having a calendar will help you remain consistent.

Regardless of the number of C’s what’s most important is the letter A—which stands for ACTION. No decent plan is any good unless you implement it.

Your Turn: What are your favorite marketing activities? Do you prefer marketing online or in person? Where do you tend to find your peeps? Let me know in the comments below.

Need to put together your marketing strategy for next year so you can make more money by sharing your message with more people? Then let’s set up a time to speak. Click here to schedule a complimentary session with Jeannie.

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